Most church services include times of singing and music, and there are hundreds of options for worship leaders to choose from. But while some songs magnify the name of Jesus and thank Him for all He is and has done, others focus more on us and our emotional response. Together, we'll look at what makes a good worship song, as well as some examples from Scripture.

Scholars identify no less than twenty-six different men named Azariah in Scripture. All of them are included for God’s purposes in the narrative of His redemptive history within humanity.

In Ecclesiastes, the preacher declares that in days of prosperity and days of adversity, "God has made the one as well as the other." That can be hard for us to wrap our minds around. Why would a good, loving God allow adversity in our lives?

Christians pray before meals, while they prepare to study the Bible, during worship services, with small groups, in times of praise and supplication, and almost any other time. They usually end their prayers with, “In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Why do Christians pray in Jesus’ Name?

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In the Bible, woe is far more than an expression of sadness; it is a solemn warning of grief and judgment. It marks the sorrow and consequences that come from rebelling against God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. When God pronounces woe, it is a certain promise of His holy justice, whether fulfilled immediately or in His appointed time.

Sometimes, a person declares woe over himself, confessing guilt and unworthiness before the Lord, as Isaiah did when he said, “Woe is me! For I am lost” (Isaiah 6:5). In every case, woe reminds us that rejecting God’s truth brings judgment, while turning to Him in repentance brings mercy and hope.

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With myriad distractions, we can all agree it’s hard to be still with God. Yet being still with Him is exactly what He desires of His children. 

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"Divine immutability" is another one of those words that sounds like you need a theology degree to understand. It merely means God does not change, but within that simple statement are incredible, eternal truths.

Women are uniquely loved, cared for, and purposed by God. If you are a woman and you are in Christ, then you've likely felt His all-encompassing love in one of these ways.

Our days can tend toward much busyness, yet the Lord is with us throughout every one, and His presence is felt even more when we begin our days communing with Him in prayer. Similarly, ending each day with prayer in the quiet space of our homes calms and quiets our souls as we ready ourselves for sleep. I’d like to offer ten evening prayers to end your day with God.

1. A Prayer for Hard Days

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Father,

This day gave me many challenges and disappointments, and my heart is heavy with anxiety and discontent. I thank You for Your abiding presence in my life, that no matter what every day brings, You never leave me or forsake me. I know I can rest in my Lord Jesus as I lay my head down for the night. Nothing that happens during each day will stop Your steadfast love and faithfulness. And I know your mercies are new every morning.

I praise You, God of all comfort and joy. I thank You, Lord Jesus, for what You have done, for what You are doing, and for what You will do. I praise You, Father, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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True wisdom is not what the world deems it to be. For example, wisdom doesn’t automatically come with age. Nor does wisdom necessarily belong to those who are most experienced or who have excelled at knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

When a pastor acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior yet preaches that man must do good works to earn and/or keep his place in heaven, that’s the glawspel. It takes a keen eye and a discerning heart to realize when a pastor or teacher is teaching a glawspel because, as humans, we naturally desire to play a role in our salvation and sanctification.

From the first Adam to the Second and Last Adam (Jesus Christ), God protected His people for His name’s sake to bring redemption to all men. His entire redemptive plan is witnessed throughout history and has been fulfilled in Christ.

God’s covenants fall within four major movements: creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. The first biblical covenant is the Adamic Covenant (aka the Creation Covenant or Covenant of Works).